Cloth laying machine



Oct. 10, 1939. M. BRETH CLOTH LAYING MACHIIE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb.ll, 1938 Oct. 10, 1939. M. BRETH CLOTH LAYING MACHINE Filed Feb. ll,1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 vom Omoo .OGM ww@ Om N K 2.@ Nod@ n.5 N um ON.dmRm Y m5 m mp R VB m WN M m .l M m u v/A M m. da@ lnllhull Oct. 10,1939. M, BRETH 2,175,823

CLOTH LAYING MACHINE Filed Feb. ll, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 iii. NVENTORMX/M/L /4/1/ 5 @ETH BY ,eb/@42W @im 4 WA llllllllllllllllllIl-f ATTORNEYOct. 10, 1939. M. BRETH CLOTH LAYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1l, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 4 j N N N INVENTOR MAX//W/L//V BRETH ATTORNEY Patented Oct.10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 19 Claims.

This invention relates to cloth laying machines.

In the usual cloth laying machine, a carriage carrying a bolt of clothis reciprocated back and forth on a cloth laying table provided withgrippers at the ends thereof, to grip the layers of cloth at the foldsas the carriage moves, the cloth pulling on the grippers during suchoperation to unwind or unroll the cloth from the bolt. It has been foundthat certain light weight textiles are stretched or injured when laidwith a machine of this kind. It is therefore an object of this inventionto provide a machine having means to lay the cloth without injury ordamage to the cloth during the laying operation, whereby the .cloth maybe laid on the table Without the necessity for anchoring the cloth atthe folds and hence eliminating the grippers.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of thecharacter described, means to continuously feed the cloth from the boltbetween rollers frictionally engaging the cloth, as the carriagereciprocates on the table.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of thecharacter described, means for tamping down the cloth with weights atthe folds during the cloth piling operation.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of thecharacter described, highly improved means for guiding the cloth as itis fed onto the table, including a pair of spaced rollers between whichthe cloth passes, which is adapted to contact the cloth when thecarriage moves in one direction, and the other of which is adapted tocontact the cloth when the carriage moves in the opposite direction, andincluding means to rotate said spaced rollers continuously to facilitatelaying of th-e cloth, means being further provided to adjust thevertical height of said pair of spaced rollers as the cloth piles up soas to be disposed directly above the top layer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strong and durablemachine of the character described, which shall be relativelyinexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate and adjust, and which shallyet be practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated inthe following claims,

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the variouspossible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a side, elevational view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, elevational, cross-sec- 10 tional view of themachine embodying the in- Vention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 15 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on line 'I-'I of Fig.2;

Fig. 8 is a partial, elevational View of a portion of my improvedmachine;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, ID designates a cloth layingmachine embodying the invention. The same comprises a cloth laying 25table II. Attached to one side of the table II and parallel to an edgethereof, is an elongated rail member I2. Clamped to spaced portions ofthe rail I2 are vertical upstanding similar symmetrically disposed stopmembers I4, Illa formed 30 with curved edges I5 on the inner sidesthereof, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Each stop member I4, Ida has a portion Mb contacting the upper edge ofthe rail I2 and the top of the adjacent portion of the table II, and 35formed with a vertical screw threaded opening I4c on; the undersidethereof. Extending from member I4 is a downwardly extending arm- I4dcontacting the outer surface of the rail I2, and provided with a footI4e engaging the under- 40 edge of said rail, and formed with an openingreceiving a bolt IIIf passing through the space between the rail and thetable and engaging the threads of the opening IIIe. A set screw 54gscrew-ed to the arm I4d engages the outer surface 45 of the rail I2 toprevent accidental shifting of the stop member.

Mounted on said table II for reciprocation is a carriage I'I comprisinga pair of aligned substantially similar parallel side frames I8, |80.,50 each formed with a pair of spaced, parallel, downwardly extendinglegs I9 and an upwardly extending wall 20. The fram-e portions I8, IBaare interconnected by a plurality of horizontal cross bars I8b. The legsI9 on one side frame 55 carry wheels 2| formed with peripheral grooves22 receiving the upper edge of the track l2. Said wheels are adapted tostrike against the curved surfaces I5 of the stops E4, Ma to limit thetravel of the carriage in opposite directions. The length of travel ofthe carriage may be adjusted by shifting the stop members.

The legs I9 on the other side frame i8 carry shafts 2li, on which arerotatably mounted wheels 25. Each wheel 2-5 comprises a member 26 havinga peripheral portion 2l of concave transverse cross-section, and amember 28 attached thereto foi` adjustment toward and away therefrom byscrews 28a, and likewise having a peripheral portion 29 of concavetransverse cross-section, opposed to the portion 2l and formingtherewith an annular groove for receiving an annular tire 3| contactingthe top of table Il. Extending from the member 28 of one the wheels 3|,is an annular coaxial sprocket wheel 32, for the purpose hereinafterappearing.

Extending upwardly from the frame portions |8, ia are arms 34 adapted torotatably carry a bolt of cloth 35 to be laid or piled on the table.

Journalled on the walls 2S of the frame members I8, la is a horizontaltransverse rod 36 carrying a sleeve or roller 3'! of rubber or othercompressible or soft, resilient material. The walls 2! are furthermoreformed with horizontal slots 38, in which are slidably mounted blocks39, in which is journalled a transverse cross shaft i?. On said shaft 4Eis a sleeve or roller 4| likewise made of rubber or other compressiblematerial, and normally in frictional Contact with the sleeve or roller3T.

Means is provided for adjustably pressing the roller 4| towards theroller 3l. To this end, there is fixed to the inner side of each wall2Q, a lug 20a formed with a screw threaded horizontal through opening23h. Slidably mounted in each opening 2l] is a pin 43 provided with ahead 44 at one end formed with a semi-annular notch 44a engaging theshaft 4G. Screwed within each opening 20h is a screw 45 adapted to abutthe pin 13 for moving the shaft 4Q, when said screw is rotated in onedirection, whereby the roller 4| may be pressed against the roller 3l.It will be noted that the shafts 36 and 4F! are at the same level inparallel relation to one another.

The cloth 35o. from the bolt 35, may be passed between the rollers 31,4|. Means is provided for continuously rotating said rollers in the samedirection for continuously feeding the cloth from the bolt forwardly. asthe carriage is reciprocated back and forth and controlled by movementof the carriage, whereby the cloth may be laid or piled on the table ilback and forth in layers of equal length during said reciprocation. Tothis end, shafts Sii and fifi carry pinions 36a and 40a. at adjacentends, preferably located at the front of frame member I8. The pinions36a and Mia are spaced from one another as shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawings.

Journalled in the walls 20, below and between the shafts 35 and 4c, is atransverse shaft 41. Carried by the shaft 4l is a pinion la spaced fromsaid pinions 35a and lilla, and disposed between and below said pinions.

Pivoted on said shaft 4l mediately the ends thereof, and disposedadjacent the pinion 41a, is a lever rocker 5i), on which are journalleda pair of pinions 5| and 52 spaced from one another, and meshing withthe pinion 47d and located on opposite sides of said shaft. g

As shown in Fig. 8, the pinion 5| is in mesh not only with the pinion labut also with the pinion 36a. l/Vhen the shaft lll', and hence thepinion fl'i'a is rotated in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 8 ofthe drawings, pinions 5|, 52 and lever 5l! are rotated about shaft ll'!in a clockwise direction until pinion 5| meshes with pinion 36a whichwill then be rotated in a clockwise direction for feeding the cloth 35adownwardly between the rollers 3l', 4|. However, should the shaft 4'? berotated in an opposite direction or counterclcckwise, the rocker 5@ andpinions 5|, 52 will be swung in a counterclockwise direction about saidshaft to unmesh thc pinion 5| from the pinion 35a and move the pinioninto mesh with the pinion 49a, whereby to rotate the roller 4| in acounterclockwise direction and continue to feed the cloth 35a downwardlybetween the rollers 3l, 45|.

Means is provided to retain the rocker arm in horizontal position withboth pinions 5i, out of engagement with respect to the pinions 35a and4Go. To this end, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the wall 20 of frame i8 isformed with a horizontal through opening 29C, located at a level betweenthe shafts 4l and 49, and adjacent one edge of said wall. Rocker arm 5Sis formed with a through opening 5ta. Extending through the openingfalla is a pin 56h, provided with a head 5de. The pin Siib may beinserted into the opening 23e when the rocker is brought to horizontalposition, to retain the pinions 5| and 52 out of engagement with respectto the pinions 36a and 49a. The rocker arm may be provided with a springpressed detent :'iild adapted to engage within a groove Elie in the pin50h to hold the pin against accidental shifting.

Means is provided for rotating shaft 4'! in opposite directions as thecarriage rolls back and forth on the table. To this end, shaft 47carries a sprocket wheel 55 aligned with the sprocket wheel 3E andconnected thereto by a chain 55.

It will now be understood that as the carriage moves to the right,looking at Fig. 4, shaft lll, and hence pinion fila, will be rotated ina clockwise direction. When the carriage strikes the stop |4 at one endand begins to move in the opposite direction, the direction of rotationof wheel 3| reverses, whereby to rotate the shaft 4l in the oppositedirection when the carriage is moved back.

It will now be understood that the pinion 41a rotates in oppositedirections as the carriage moves back and forth, whereas the cloth 35ais fed continuously downwardly to pile the cloth on the table.

The length of cloth fed between the rollers 31', 4| should besubstantially equal to the length of travel of the carriage il. Theouter diameter of the tire 3i is therefore so dimensioned with respectto the diameters of the rollers 37, 4| to substantially feed a length ofcloth equal to the length of travel of the carriage in oppositedirections. Fine adjustment however may be obtained by tightening orloosening the screws 28a to squeeze or relieve the tire 3| forincreasing or decreasing the outer diameter thereof. Further adjustmentsmay be made by adjusting the screws which cause the roller 4| to pressagainst the roller 31 flattening the adjacent surfaces thereof toslightly vary the length of cloth fed between said rollers.

Means is provided to guide the cloth 35a fed downwardly between therollers 37, il! toward the table, to facilitate piling of the cloth. Tothis end, there is xed to the inner surfaces of the frame members I8,18a. aligned, similar symmetrically disposed brackets or straps 6Uforming therewith vertical slots to slidably receive a pair of alignedvertical similar racks El, each formed with gear teeth 62 adjacent onelongitudinal vertical edge thereof.

Rotatably mounted on the frames i8, la is a transverse horizontal shaft68a carrying a pair of pinions Slo., meshing with the gear teeth 62 ofthe racks Si. Pivoted to the frame 8 is a lever Gib having a pawl Eloengaging the adjacent pinion Sla and held in engagement therewith bytension springs Bld. The lever S lb has a handle portion SIe projectingabove the frame I8, whereby said lever may be rotated to disengage thepawl 6lc from the pinion Sla. The rod 60a carries a knob 62a which maybe grasped by the operator and rotated, for rotating the pinions Ela(when the pawl Slc is released) to eit er raise or lower the racks 5|.

Each rack 6I is provided with a head 3 at the lower end thereof. Journalled on the ends of the heads 53 are a pair of parallel horizontal,spaced, transverse shafts 64 and 65 carrying rollers 66 and 61,respectively.

The cloth 35a fed downwardly between the rollers 31, 4I, passes betweenthe rollers 56 and E51. When the carriage moves to the right, the clothcontacts the roller 56 to lay the cloth in one direction, and when thecarriage moves to the left, the cloth contacts the roller 6l to lay thecloth in the opposite direction.

As the cloth piles up the knob 62a is rotated to lift the racks to keepthe rollers BB and 6l just above ythe pile of cloth.

Means is provided to facilitate laying of the cloth by rotating theroller 68 continuously in a clockwise direction, and the roller G1continuously in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 4: of thedrawings. To this end, there is fixed to the shafts 64 and E5, sprocketwheels 5S and 69. Carried by the shaft 35, and adjacent the frame i811.,is a sprocket wheel 18. Extending downwardly from the frame la is anextension l! carrying a sprocket wheel 'l2 disposed directly beneath andbetween the sprocket wheels 5B and 58. Extending about the sprocketwheels 58 and lil and around the roller l2, is a sprocket chain 15,having a portion passing between the sprocket wheels 58 and 58 andcontacting the latter.

As the shaft i5 rotates continuously in a clockwise direction, lookingat Fig. 4, sprocket wheel E8 will be rotated continuously in acounterclockwise direction, and sprocket Wheel 55 will be rotatedcontinuously in a clockwise direction. rlThe rollers 56 and Si willrotate continuously in a clockwise and counterclockwise directionrespectively, to feed the cloth 35a whenever the cloth is in contactwith either one or the other of said rollers.

The direction of rotation of the rollers 55 and 5'! will not be alteredupon raising the racks 5l, as the sprocket wheels 58 and 59 willcontinue in engagement with the chain 'f5 in all vertical positions ofthe rollers 55 and 61.

As the carriage Il moves back and forth, the cloth will be laid back andforth on` the table` in a pile forming folds at the ends of the lay, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Means is provided to tamp the cloth down adjacent the folds each timethe direction of the carriage is reversed. To this end, there isjournalled on each end of the carriage Il, a transverse, horizontalcross rod 88. Fixed to each rod 8U is an upwardly extending arm 8iproparallel, spaced ngers482a carrying aligned adjustable screws 83.V

Integrally formed with each member i8 is a lug 82 disposed between eachpair of fingers 82a, and adapted to bei engaged by the screws r83 tolimit thel angle of oscillation of the arm 8| and shafts. There isAfurthermorev fixed to the ends of each rod or shaft a pair of spaced,outwardly eX- tending arms 88, each formed with a semi-circular notch 89at the outer end thereof.

Releasably carried by the pairs of arms 88 are similar tampingmechanisms 90, 80a, adapted to rest on the table when released. Eachmechanism 9i), 98a comprises a pair of spaced vertical stanchions 9|,each having a basev 92 adapted to contact the table. The stanchions 9iare adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of the cloth laid on thetable l2. teeth 92 on the inner edge thereof. Said stanchions areinterconnected at the top by a transverse ho-rizontal cross bar 93adapted to be received within the semi-circular notches 89 in the arms88.

Slidably carried by the stanchions 9| of each mechanism 90, Sla, is atransverse member 94 having a flat horizontal weighted portion 95, thelower corners whereof are curved as at 9B. At the ends of each portion95 are portions 98 formed with vertical slots receiving the stanchionsV9i. vJournalled on said portions 98 is a transverse shaft 99 carrying apair of pawls 99a adapted to engage ratchet teeth 92 of said stanchions9|. The teeth 92 are so arranged as to permit the member 94 to be movedupwardly, but holding said member against downward movement except uponswinging the pawls away from the teeth.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, mechanism 90 is shown in position adjacentone end of the pile of cloth with the weighted portion 95 resting on thecloth to Atamp vdown the folded ends thereof. The carriage I1 however isat the left end of its movement, and the arms 88 at the right end arenot in 4engagement with the mechanism 8 8 which rests on the table.Mechanism 99a however is spaced'from the cloth, and is carried by the`arms 88 at the left end of the carriage. The carriage may be moved fromthe position of Fig. l, to the right, the handles 82 being grasped bythe operator to move the carriage. Mechanism a is lifted, asillustrated, and carried along with the carriage until the arms B8 atthe right pick up the mechanism 90. The carriage continues moving to theright until the portion 94 of mechanism 90a, moves onto the left end ofthe pile of cloth. The arms 88 at the left of the carriage are thenreleased from the cross bar 93 of mechanism 90a, and the carriagecontinues moving to the right while still carrying mechanism 90, untilthe wheel 2l strikes the stop member I4. The carriage then begins tomove to the left carrying the mechanism 90 toward the left, saidcarriage picking up the mechanism 98a and again depositing the mechanism98 on the pile of cloth.

It will be noted that the shafts an have limited rotation to permit themechanisms 9D, 90a to be lifted up to be carried with the cloth ordropped down to the table and disengaged.

It will be further understood that the members 94 are lifted step bystep upwardly as the cloth piles up. The portions 95 thereof slide ontothe pile of cloth causing said members 94 Each stanchion 9| has ratcheti to be lifted, said members being held in lifted position by the `bars99 engaging the ratchet teeth 92 It will thus be seen that there isprovided a device in which the several objects of this invention areachieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practicaluse.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

l. In cloth laying apparatus, a pair of members arranged for freelongitudinal reciprocation, one relative to the other for varyingdistances, means for limiting relative movement between said members inopposite directions, means on one of said members to support a bolt ofcloth, and means controlled by relative movement between said membersvarying distances, in opposite directions for continuously feeding clothfrom said bolt in the same direction onto said other member.

2. In cloth laying apparatus, a table, a carriage mounted thereon forreciprocation, for varying distances in opposite directions, adjustablemeans to limit the extent of movement of said carriage in oppositedirections, means on said carriage to support a bolt of cloth, and meanscontrolled by movement of the carriage on the table in oppositedirections for continuously feeding the cloth from said bolt in onedirection onto said table.

3. In apparatus for laying cloth, a table, a wheeled carriage on saidtable and adapted to be freely rolled back and forth thereon varyingdistances in opposite directions, means on said carriage to support abolt of cloth to be laid in layers on the table, a pair of parallelrollers on said carriage and adapted to frictionally receive the clothfrom said bolt therebetween, and means actuated upon reciprocation ofthe carriage on the table in opposite directions, varying distances, forcontinuously feeding the cloth between the rollers in the same directiononto said table.

4. In apparatus for laying cloth, a table, a wheeled carriage on saidtable and adapted to be rolled back and forth thereon, stop means tolimit movement of the carriage in opposite directions, means on saidcarriage to support a bolt of cloth to be laid on the table, a pair ofparallel rollers on said carriage and adapted to frictionally receivethe cloth from said bolt therebetween, means actuated upon reciprocationof the carriage on the table for continuously feeding the cloth betweenthe rollers in the same direction, means mounted on said carriage forvertical adjustment, a pair of spaced rollers carried by said means, thecloth fed by the first pair of rollers being adapted to pass betweensaid second pair of rollers, and means for adjusting said meansvertically.

5. In cloth laying apparatus, a table, a carriage mounted thereon forreciprocation, means on said carriage to support a `bolt of cloth, stopsclamped to said table for limiting reciprocation of said carriage inopposite directions, a wheel on said carriage engaging said table, atransverse shaft on said carriage, means cooperating with said wheel forrotating said shaft upon moving said carriage on said table, a pinion onsaid shaft, a pair of parallel, transverse shafts on said carriagecarrying rollers adapted to receive and frictionally engage cloth fromsaid bolt, therebetween, pinions on said pair of shafts, a memberpivoted to said rst shaft, and a pair of pinions on said pivoted membermeshing with said first mentioned pinion, as said pivoted member rotatesabout said shaft, one of said pair of pinions on said pivoted memberbeing adapted to engage one of the pair of pinions on said pair ofshafts, in one position of said pivoted member, and the other of thepair of pinions on said pivoted member meshing with the other of saidpair of pinions on said pair of shafts, in another position of saidpivoted member.

6. In apparatus for laying cloth, a table, a wheeled carriage on saidtable and adapted to be rolled back and forth thereon, means on saidcarriage to support a bolt of cloth to be laid in layers on the table, apair of parallel rollers on said carriage and adapted to frictionallyreceive the cloth from said bolt therebetween, and means actuated uponreciprocation of the carriage on the table in opposite directions forrotating one roller when the carriage moves in one direction and theother roller when the carriage moves in the opposite direction.

7. In cloth laying apparatus, a table, a member mounted thereon forreciprocation, means on said member for supporting a bolt of cloth to belaid on said table, a pair of parallel rollers disposed transversely ofthe direction of movement of said member, adapted to frictionallyreceive the cloth from said bolt therebetween, pinions on said rollers,a pinion rotatably mounted on said member, means for rotating said lastpinion in one direction upon moving said member in one direction, and inthe opposite direction upon moving said member in the oppositedirection, a member pivoted on said carriage about the axis of said lastpinion and carrying a pair of pinions meshing therewith, one of saidpair of pinions on said pivoted member being adapted to mesh with one ofsaid pair of pinions on said rollers upon moving j said first member inone direction, and the other of said pair of pinions on said pivotedmember being adapted to mesh with said other of said pair of pinions onsaid rollers upon moving said first member in the opposite direction.

8. In cloth laying apparatus, a table, a member mounted thereon forreciprocation, means on said member for supporting a bolt of cloth to belaid on said table, a pair of parallel rollers disposed transversely ofthe direction of movement of said l member, adapted to frictionallyreceive the cloth from said bolt therebetween, pinions on lsaid rollers,a pinion rotatably mounted on said member, means for rotating said lastpinion in one direction upon moving said member in one direction, and inthe opposite direction upon moving said member in the oppositedirection, a member pivoted on said carriage about the axis of said lastpinion and carrying a pair of pinions meshing therewith, one of saidpair of pinions on said pivoted member being adapted to mesh with one ofsaid pair of pinions on said rollers upon moving said rst member in onedirection, and the other of said pair of pinions on said pivoted memberbeing adapted to mesh with said other of said pair of pinions on saidrollers upon moving said rst member in the opposite direction, and meansfor retaining said pivoted member against rotation in such position thatthe pinions thereon are out of engagement with the pinions on saidrollers.

9. In apparatus for laying cloth, a table, a wheeled carriage on saidtable and adapted to be rolled back and forth thereon, means on saidcarriage to support a bolt of cloth to be laid in layers on the table, apair of parallel rollers on said carriage and adapted to frictionallyreceive the cloth from said bolt therebetween, means actuated uponreciprocation of the carriage on the table in opposite directions, forcontinuously feeding the cloth between the rollers in the samedirection, and means for pressing said rollers together.

10. In apparatus for laying cloth, a table, a wheeled carriage on saidtable and adapted to be rolled back and forth thereon, means on saidcarriage to support a bolt of cloth to be laid in layers on the table, apair of parallel rollers on said carriage and adapted to frictionallyreceive the cloth from said bolt therebetween, means actuated uponreciprocation of the carriage on the table in opposite directions, forcontinuously feeding the cloth between the rollers in the same directiononto said table, said rollers having compressible outer portions andmeans for causing relative movement of said rollers one toward theother.

l1. In apparatus for laying cloth, a table, a wheeled carriage on saidtable and adapted to be rolled back and forth thereon, stop means tolimit movement of the carriage in opposite directions, means on saidcarriage to support a bolt of cloth to be laid on the table, a pair ofparallel rollers on said carriage and adapted to frictionally receivethe cloth from said bolt therebetween, means actuated upon reoiprocationof the carriage on the table for continuously feeding the cloth betweenthe rollers in the same direction, means mounted on said carriage forvertical adjustment, a pair of spaced rollers carried by said means, thecloth fed by the first pair of rollers being adapted to pass betweensaid second pair of rollers, and means for adjusting said meansvertically, one of said second pair of rollers being adapted to engagethe cloth when the carriage is moved in one direction, and the other ofsaid second pair of rollers being adapted to engage the cloth when thecarriage is moved in the opposite direction, and means for continuouslyrotating each of said second pair of rollers in the same direction inall the vertically7 adjusted positions of said means.

12. In apparatus for laying cloth, a table, a wheeled carriage on saidtable and adapted to be freely rolled back and forth thereon anydistance in either direction, means on said carriage to support a boltof cloth to be laid in layers on the table, a pair of parallel rollerson said carriage and adapted to frictionally receive the cloth from saidbolt therebetween, means actuated upon reciprocation of the carriage onthe table any distance in opposite directions, for continuously feedingthe cloth between the rollers in the same direction, and stop meansadapted to be clamped te the table in various adjusted positions forlimiting movement of said carriage in various adjusted positionsrelative to the table in opposite directions.

13. In cloth laying apparatus, a tab-le, a carriage mounted thereon forreciprocation, means on said carriage to support a bolt of cloth, stopsclamped to said table for limiting reciprocation of said carriage inopposite directions, a Wheel on said carriage engaging said table, atransverse shaft on said carriage, means cooperating with said wheel forrotating said shaft upon moving said carriage on said table, a pinion onsaid shaft, a pair of parallel, transverse shafts on said carriagecarrying rollers adapted to receive and frictionally` engage cloth fromsaid bolt therebetween, pinions on said pairv of shafts, a memberpivoted to said first shaft, and a pair of pinions on said pivotedmember meshing with said rst mentioned pinion, Vas said pivoted memberrotates about said shaft, one of said pair of pinions on said pivotedmember being adapted to engage one of the pair of pinions on said pairof shafts, in one position of said pivoted member, and the other of thepair of pinions on said pivoted member meshing with the other of saidpair of pinions on said pair of shafts in another position of saidpivoted member, said wheel having a rubber tire, and means for expandingsaid tire on said wheel.

le. Apparatus for laying cloth on a table, comprising a carriage adaptedto be freely moved back and forth on said table, varying distances ineither direction, means on said carriage t0 support a bolt of cloth tobe laid on the table, a pair of parallel rollers on said carriageadapted to frictionally receive the cloth from said bolt therebetween,and means actuated upon reciprocation of said carriage varying distancesin either direction for continuously feeding the cloth between therollers in the same direction onto said table as said carriage movesback and forth on the table.

15. Apparatus for laying cloth on a table, comprising a carriage adaptedto be moved back and forth on said table, means on said carriage tosupport a bolt of cloth to be laid on the table, a pair of parallelrollers on said carriage adapted to frictionally receive the cloth fromsaid bolt therebetween, means actuated upon reciprocationof saidcarriage for continuously feeding the cloth between the rollers in thesame direction, a second pair of spaced rollers supported on saidcarriage, the cloth fed by the first pair of rollers being adapted topass between said second pair of rollers, one of said second pair ofrollers being adapted to engage the cloth when the carriage is moved inone direction, and the other of said second pair of rollers beingadapted to engage said cloth when said carriage is moved in the oppositedirection, and means for continuously rotating each of said second pairof rollers in the same direction.

16. Apparatus for laying cloth on a table, comprising a carriage adaptedto be moved back and forth on said table, means on said carriage tosupporta bolt of cloth to be laid on the table, a pair of parallelrollers on said carriage adapted to frictionally receive the cloth fromsaid bolt therebetween, means actuated upon reciprocation of saidcarriage for continuously feeding the cloth between the rollers in thesame direction, a second pair of spaced rollers supported on saidcarriage, the cloth fed by the rst pair of rollers being adapted to passbetween said second pair of rollers, one of said second pair of rollersbeing adapted to engage the cloth when the carriage is moved in onedirection, and the other of said second pair of rollers being adapted toengage said cloth when said carriage is moved in the opposite direction,means for adjusting the vertical positions of said second pair ofrollers, and means for continuously rotating each of said second pair ofrollers in the same direction, in all the vertically adjusted positionsthereof.

17. Apparatus for laying cloth on a table, comprising a carriage adaptedto be rolled back and forth on said table, means on said carriage tosupport a bolt of cloth to be laid on the table, a pair of parallelrollers on said carriage adapted to frictionally receive the cloth fromsaid bolt therebetween, means actuated upon reciprocation of saidcarriage on said table for continuously feeding the cloth between therollers in the same direction, means mounted on said carriage forvertical adjustment, a pair of spaced rollers carried by said means, thecloth fed by the rst pair of rollers being adapted to pass between saidsecond pair of rollers, and means for adjusting said rst meansvertically, one of said pair of rollers being adapted to engage thecloth when the carriage is moved in one direction, and the otherA ofsaid second pair of rollers being adapted to engage said cloth when saidcarriage is moved the opposite direction.

18. Apparatus for laying cloth on a table, comprising,r a carriageadapted to be mounted on a table for reciprocaton back and forth, meanson said carriage to support a bolt of cloth, a Wheel on said carriageadapted to engage said table, a transverse shaft on said carriage, meanscooperating with said wheel for rotating said shaft, upon moving saidcarriage on said table, a pinion on said shaft, a pair of paralleltransverse shafts on said carriage carrying rollers adapted to receiveand frictioriall'y engage cloth from said bolt therebetween, pinions onsaid pair of shafts, a member pivoted to said iirst shaft, and a pair ofpinions on said pivoted member meshing with said rst mentioned pinion,as said pivoted member rotates about said shaft, one of said pair ofpinions on said pivoted member being adapted to engage one of the pairof pinions on said pair of shafts, in one position of said pivotedmember, and the other of said pair of pinions on said pivoted membermeshing with the other of said pair ofpinions on said pair of shafts, inanother position of said pivoted member.

19. In cloth laying apparatus, a table, a member mounted thereon forreciprocation, means on said member for supporting a bolt of cloth to belaid on said table, a pair of parallel rollers disposed transversely ofthe direction of movement of said member, adapted to frictionallyreceive the cloth from said bolt therebetween, pinions on said rollers,a pinion rotatably mounted on said member, means for rotating said lastpinion in one direction upon moving said member in one direction, and inthe opposite direction upon moving said member in the oppositedirection, a member pivoted on said carriage about the aXis of said lastpinion and carrying a pair of pinions meshing therewith, one of saidpair off pinions on said pivoted member being adapted to mesh with oneof said pair of pinions on said rollers upon moving said rst member inone direction, and the other of Said pair of pinions on said pivotedmember being adapted to mesh with said other of said pair of pinions onsaid rollers upon moving said flrst member in the opposite direction,whereby to continuously feed cloth from said bolt between said rollersas said carriage is reciprocated on said table in opposite directions, asecond pair of spaced, parallel rollers supported on said carriage, thecloth fed between said first pair of rollers being adapted to passbetween said secind pair of rollers, and means for rotating said secondpair of rollers in the same direction.

MAXIMILIAN BRETH.

